Week 4: Point-Counterpoint

Saturday

1. Last in yards on offense, 29th in yards on defense. The dreary numbers are everywhere we look. Of all the statistics, which one sticks out?

Jessica Blaylock: That they are dead last in the league at stopping the run. I truly believed with the addition of defensive tackles Sen'Derrick Marks and Roy Miller, the Jaguars would be able to not necessarily shut down the run but at least manage it.

Ryan O'Halloran: Scoring. The Jaguars are averaging 9.3 points per game. Granted, Kansas City's defense is looking sharp and Seattle will make a ton of teams look bad, I expected the Jaguars' offense to be more functional than this. Instead, they've struggled to put consecutive good plays together much less good drives.

2. Tight end Marcedes Lewis has missed five games - the last two in the preseason and first three in the regular season - because of a left calf injury. If he plays Sunday, who on the Jaguars' offense figures to benefit the most?

Jessica: Maurice Jones-Drew. I envision that because Lewis is still not 100 percent and he will be mainly utilized as a blocker before being used as a pass catcher, As a blocker, he will help open up the running lanes for Jones-Drew, who is averaging only 2.6 yards per carry.

Ryan: When Lewis gets up to speed as a receiver, Cecil Shorts should benefit. Lewis' best route is down both seams and when matched up against a less-athletic linebacker, he should attract attention from a safety. That should open up some outside room for Shorts and give him a chance to beat one-on-one coverage.

3. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert will start for the first time since Week 1. What do you expect from No. 11?

Jessica: I expect to see something similar to how he played in Week 1 against Kansas City, meaning a little rust after missing time and it taking a while to get some rhythm going with the offense. I hope to see him take some chances and shots downfield after all the talk this past week about the coaching staff wanting Gabbert to play with more freedom.

Ryan: Well, a plus for Gabbert would be finishing the game. The last two games he played in 2012 (Indianapolis and at Houston), he left with injuries, the same with his only game this year - he left the Kansas City loss in the fourth quarter when his hand was split open. I'd concentrate on short throws off of three-step drops to get him into the game and not leaving him back in the pocket to get hammered.

4. The Jaguars are expected to start Johnathan Cyprien and Josh Evans at safety and possibly Demetrius McCray at a corner spot. All are rookies. A good sign that they're ready to play or should the front office acquired more veteran help?

Jessica: The only way to get better is to be thrown into the fire. I was surprised after the injury to rookie cornerback Dwayne Gratz that they didn't go re-sign veteran Marcus Trufant who knew the system from playing for Gus Bradley in Seattle and being in camp with the Jaguars. But to me, that's a sign that they have confidence in their young guys. Facing tough situations now will only help the in the long run.

Ryan: The theory has become obvious for the Jaguars - why sign a veteran who won't help them win a game when a rookie can gain valuable experience. I don't have a problem with it. Cyprien was a starter the day he was drafted and Evans was likely to get some extensive playing time later in the year. That has been accelerated.

5. Indianapolis is one of only two teams the Jaguars beat last year. The Colts are coming off a big win on the West Coast against the 49ers; the Jaguars are back home for the first time since Week 1. Does Gus Bradley gets his first win?

Jessica: No. I still think the Colts are better at almost every position than the Jaguars. I do think it is a more competitive game than the first three weeks. Indianapolis 31, Jacksonville 21.

Ryan: Every time I think the Jaguars will face a team that will overlook them, the Jaguars still get slapped around. Indianapolis probably won't be any different. Colts 30-17.

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